As more Ugandans embrace the Internet to accomplish different tasks in life, business, and education, network experts at Simplifi Networks are urging businesses to adopt fiber internet.
Speaking during the recent ICT Directors Forum organized by the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU), Ambrose Ahurra, a Network Engineer at Simplifi Networks, a regional distributor of networking and communications equipment in Uganda and Kenya, emphasized the importance of embracing fiber technology in East Africa. “The adoption of fiber will lead to more reliable and faster internet services, essential for economic growth and everyday convenience,” he said.
For businesses, homes, and other facilities, embracing fiber optics is not just an option but a necessity for staying competitive in an increasingly digital world.
“Fiber optics offer several advantages for businesses, including higher speeds, greater bandwidth, and longer transmission distances,” Ahurra said. “It enables faster data transfer and greater bandwidth, essential for businesses relying on data-intensive applications.”
Ahurra explained that many businesses today are moving away from copper cable internet due to costs, cable length limitations, fast throughput, and future-proofing. The Fiber vs Copper Cable cost can reduce the installation by as much as 50%+. “New technology in EPON/GPON can not make it easier to add POE to endpoints for cameras and Access Points,” said Ahurra.
Research from Hewlett-Packard (HP Inc.) revealed that businesses utilizing fiber internet enjoy upload speeds up to 20 times faster than those relying on cable internet. This significant speed advantage yields substantial productivity and efficiency gains, enabling companies to handle large data transfers, host smooth video conferences, and support multiple users concurrently effortlessly.
The residential sector is also witnessing a significant shift towards fiber internet driven by the growing demand for high-speed internet for streaming, gaming, and remote work, to mention a few without lag/interruption. As more traditional homes turn into smart homes, fiber provides the stability to support multiple smart devices connected to the house.
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Despite its advantages, deploying fiber internet can be challenging. The initial installation cost and the need for specialized skills and equipment are significant barriers, however, Ahurra says these challenges are decreasing over time. “Today, the tools and expertise needed to maintain fiber networks are more accessible, making it easier to deploy and manage these networks,” he noted.
One other major challenge and probably the most common Ahurra highlights is the potential for fiber cuts, which can disrupt services. This is evident with an incident that happened in May this year when the East African region experienced slow and intermittent internet —this was a result of a cable that runs alongside the coast of East Africa, known as Eassy, had been cut some 45km north of the South African port city of Durban.
From February to May this year, we witnessed several submarine cable interruptions across the African continent, resulting in the degradation of users’ Internet experience in multiple countries at different times.
These issues are often mitigated by careful planning and robust maintenance strategies, ensuring minimal downtime for users.
Meanwhile, according to the Uganda Communication Commission’s (UCC) Market Performance Report, Uganda’s internet connections have risen to 27.7 million subscriptions as of June 2023 from 27 million in March 2023, presenting vast opportunities for businesses and individuals to capitalize on enhanced connectivity. The escalating demand for high-speed internet and reliable connections has propelled fiber optic technology to the forefront, surpassing traditional copper cables with its exceptional speed and unwavering dependability.
Fiber optic technology uses light pulses to transmit data through thin glass tubes, enabling fast and reliable connectivity. Unlike traditional copper cables, which use electric signals, fiber optic technology offers longer transmission distances, higher bandwidth, and lower latency.
“Fiber optic technology is the next big thing due to its unparalleled speed, reliability, and capacity to meet the growing demand for high-speed internet and data connectivity,” said Ahurra.
See also: OP-ED: Submarine cables and the East African Internet — what’s the story?
